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Hello from Wisconsin. Six months ago I stumbled on a $2 garage sale find 1859 Sharps carbine. Had no forend or stock, mainspring, saddle bar, had damage to the hammer, trigger plate and tang, and had two screws busted off at the ends and two that would not budge, and can't forget the rust everywhere. Fast forward and I have repaired her to where I only need an original stock with patch box and saddle bar inletting. Why am I asking for parts from across the Atlantic? Ken McPheeters told me that after the war European governments like the UK and France bought up several thousand rifles, carbines and now-precious parts.

Wanting to continue on all things Sharps, I bought a damaged but otherwise fully accessorized 3-band forend, including the bands, springs, nose piece and screw. It's missing about 10" x 1/4" of wood on the right rear, but after I removed the varnish and polished the wood up, it looks like a beautiful piece as is. Now, I'm looking to piece together an 1859 Sharps long rifle. If I want to repair the forend, I'd need first a serial-matching barrel and receiver. Then I'd need the complete lock plate, breech block and lever link (have great lever too), rear sight (very rare) and stock.

Also, I'll be receiving a much lower production Merrill carbine 2nd model barn find. Is all original that's on her, with some parts likely scavenged long time ago. There's likely no mainspring (hole in lock plate where should be mainspring stud/pin(?), missing the rear sight and front sight, and the brass forend band and screw.

If anyone on this forum has parts, or has connections, please do let me know. I do have for trade two Martini-Henry bayonets and scabbards in immaculate condition with excellent roll-pressed markings.

My Merrill is now fully functional, after freeing the lever plunger from the breech. Was rusted over the years, but with lots of pb blaster soaking, baking at 250 for 15 minutes, then tapping with a 3' x 1/2" steel rod, she broke free. Had to heat up the lever several times to re-shape her, and she's now latching to the lug just fine. Need minor tweeks to its contour, but that can wait.

Anyone have wood/buttplate screws with 13/32" (.406) head diameter and 17/64" thread diameter. Screw threads were rusted in the wood, and had to use an extractor on one and drilling small holes around the top tang screw to remove them.

Does anyone have American Civil War parts on this forum? Need front and rear sights for the Merrill (3rd model), plus the brass band. Barrel/receiver/lever/plunger/buttplate all have 8/43 assembly numbers, whereas the lockplate/hammer/bridle/sear/saddle bar have 4/43 assembly numbers. Would the 4/43 numbers be for 2nd model surplus, with 8/43 numbers be for 3rd model? Trying to figure out why parts have different assembly numbers, as I was told the rifle was all original, and haven't seen anything that would make me believe these parts were not together for 150 years.

I'm also taking interest in Spencer and Burnside carbines to restore. Picked up four small display cases with CW era artifacts. Primary was the mint Sharps pellet primer tube with dowel. What I didn't know was that one case included a mint condition Burnside bullet with cartridge, plus some dug bulelts.

PM if you do parts, parts, parts, as I'd love to find a connection in the UK. I could also be your US connection (eyes/ears) for UK-related militaria parts here (Enfield, Whitworth, Martini-Henry...).